How much weed does it take to kill you? With the legalization of marijuana in many states, it would seem that the pass press about the dangers of cannabis are in contradiction to so many states opening-up legalized marijuana use, both medicinally and recreationally. Many of the sensationalized articles geared toward possible marijuana related fatalities defy common sense, especially in light of the absolute plethora of deaths caused by pharmaceuticals, alcohol, tobacco, and even common overdosages H20 (AKA”water”). Upon further examination, not one, not even one death has ever been a result of an overdose of marijuana. The world and the United States is discovering, it’s not Reefer Madness across the land.

Since marijuana is now legal with a doctors prescription, and in some states, “over the counter”; perhaps it should be compared to the more harmless substances that are taken on a daily basis, such as aspirin, for instance. Aspirin is completely harmless, and even a beneficial drug if taken to prevent heart attacks or strokes, right? Wrong. Every year, over 7,600 people die from consumption of aspirin and other non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Additionally, if a statistical analysis were done of every person who was on aspirin for a headache when they committed a murder, aspirin might appear to be a leading cause, but that conclusion would obviously be dismissed as a researcher would search for a more likely common cause.

The fact is, to much of anything is harmful, whether it’s too much sugar (which is the primary cause of death for 71,382 Americans each year), too much alcohol (which causes 110,000 deaths a year) or even died from taking too much water. It is rare, but every year or two a case pops up in the press telling the sad story of a fraternity student, adult, or child that died during a hazing from consuming too much water, thus diluting their electrolytes and causing cardiac arrest. These cases always make the news for their simple weirdness factor. It is far more sensational to read about a freak accident caused by overdose of a perceptibly harmless, or perhaps even necessary substance.

So How Many People Have Actually Died From a Marijuana Overdose? Zero. Absolutely none. Although you can suffer other side effects of the drug, not one person has ever died from consuming marijuana, this may be due to the fact that it is impossible to consume enough THC to die. A 1970’s study on monkeys (not a fan of testing on animals) showed that when injected intravenously with 92 mg/kg THC, they did not die.

Currently the Merk Index lists that the LD50 of TCH for rats is 42mg/kg. This is the amount it would take for half of them to die. Remember that even the most potent bud on the market is roughly 23 percent TCH, so this would be the equivalent of a 150 lb person smoking about a half ounce of weed all at once, or perhaps smoking 5 grams of very potent hash. Any who have tried to do this will know just how difficult it is to accomplish. Basically, it’s impossible. It may, however, be possible to eat this much in this amount of time, but oral doses have a much higher LD50-730 mg/kg. It would take an almost herculean effort to overdose one’s self with THC. It would be much easier to overdose on sugar, or even water.

Of course this is not to say that people never die because of situations surrounding marijuana. Even though alcohol is definitely deadlier on the road than any other drug, including marijuana, marijuana users will want to know how much affects them, how it affects them, and consider caution when taking cannabis, such as when driving a car, operating heavy machinery, or when placed in common sense dangerous situations.

In fact, the poll suggests that the perception of marijuana as a dangerous drug, which was once commonplace, has dropped dramatically in recent years, and is now, sugar is seen as being more harmful than marijuana.

Poll Results

In the NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, the participants were asked how they rated cannabis, sugar, alcohol and tobacco in terms of how dangerous they considered each substance to be.

Tobacco was overwhelmingly considered the most dangerous, with nearly half of all participants, 49 percent, responding that they considered tobacco to be the most dangerous of the four substances listed. Alcohol was rated most dangerous by 24 percent, with sugar following with a 15% rating. Less than one in ten Americans, or 8 percent, considered marijuana to be the most dangerous substance. Sugar is seen as more harmful than marijuana, yet, we give sugar to our kids everyday.

Wrong Classification?

The poll results are an ironic counterpoint to the attitude reflected in the way cannabis is treated legally by the federal government, which classifies marijuana as a Schedule One Controlled Substance. That is the same dangerousness classification in which LSD and heroin can also be found.

Yet, this latest poll suggests that the American people now consider marijuana use to be less dangerous than eating a sugary snack. Most Americans also consider cannabis to be less harmful than tobacco and alcohol, both of which are legal for adults.

Risks of Legal Drugs

The belief of many Americans that the use of tobacco, alcohol and sugar can be dangerous is backed by scientific studies showing that diabetes, obesity, heart disease, cancer and premature death are all linked to the regular use of all three substances.

Although few people consider marijuana completely harmless, the sentiment appears overwhelming that most Americans do not consider the use of cannabis to be major health threat. There is no known documented case of a person proven to have died from a marijuana overdose. In the meantime, many people are suffering and dying form the effects of sugar.

Marijuana as Medicine

Perhaps even more ironically, studies indicate that marijuana has properties that are helpful to the treatment of a number of medical conditions such as cancer and AIDS. Cannabis has also been linked to improved psychological health, with suicide rates among young men actually lower among cannabis users.

So while cannabis is legally classified by the government as among the most dangerous of drugs, the facts suggest that marijuana can actually be beneficial to the physical and mental health of those who use it.

Time for Change?

The poll results reveal how the perception of most Americans has shifted in recent years towards a less critical viewpoint of the risks associated with marijuana use. The results suggest that Americans now consider cannabis to be less harmful than drugs that are currently legal, perhaps even less risky than eating a sugary diet. This change in public attitude supports the contention that any problems associated with marijuana should be regarded as primarily a public health issue rather than a matter for law enforcement.

Yet, current federal law continues to reflect policies based on a fear of marijuana that is no longer justified by either the facts nor the opinions of the American people. Therefore, this poll could be an indication that it might be time for a major reappraisal of marijuana policies in the United States.

NORML Depity Director, Paul Armentano, had commented on the poll results stating: “These results once again reaffirm that an overwhelming majority of the American public understands that any potential risks associated with the use or abuse of cannabis are relatively minor to those associated with many other legal and regulated substances. Criminalizing cannabis and those who consume it responsibly is a disproportionate public policy response to what is, at worst, a public health issue but not a criminal justice concern.”

Most parents will go to great lengths to help their children. Cheri O’Connell, who is a mother who resides in Victoria, Australia, is an example of a mother who went the extra mile for her epileptic child. O’Connell felt like she was out of options. Her eight-year old daughter Tara had severe epilepsy and she was having up to 60 seizures in one day. Tara was taking several pharmaceutical drugs, but they were not helping. Her condition continued to get worse. She had problems walking and speaking. Additionally, doctors had told Tara’s family to prepare for the worst.

Tara’s mother was desperate. She could not stand to see her daughter suffer anymore. She began to do research on medical marijuana and found that it had many benefits. Medical marijuana is not legal in Victoria, and the government has no intention of changing the law. Cheri stated, “We had to break the law or watch her die.”

Cheri began giving her daughter THC-A, which is also known as the liquid form of marijuana. Tara’s recovery was nothing short of remarkable. Her seizures have stopped, and she has had a major improvement in her overall quality of life. Before Tara was given medical marijuana, she was not able to walk properly. Today, she is able to get around without using her wheelchair. Tara also had problems writing before she was given medical marijuana. Today, Tara’s mother says that her daughter is a “budding artist.”

Not only did the medical marijuana help Tara make a miraculous recovery, but she was able to recover without any serious side effects. Fatigue and increased appetite were the only side effects that Tara experienced while she was given marijuana. Despite the fact that the government in Victoria does not seem to have any interest in medical marijuana, Tara’s amazing recovery has prompted many researchers to test the effectiveness of medical marijuana.

Wayne Pfeiffer is the general manager of client services for Epilepsy Australia. He stated that many families have been interested in trying medical marijuana to treat epilepsy, but he cannot recommend because it is not legal. It is estimated that seven out of 10 people who use medications for epilepsy will be able to get relief. The 30 percent of people who still suffer from seizures despite the fact that they are taking medications are looking for something that is both safe and effective.

When Cheri was asked about what prompted her to make the difficult decision to give her daughter the medical marijuana she replied by saying, “The side effect of not giving her the drug was death. We have now passed the 12-month mark and she is healthier than ever. We just thought, what else do we have to do?” She decided that the consequences of breaking the law was worth in order to save her daughter. Tara was taking eight pharmaceutical drugs every day before she received the medical marijuana.

More parents are turning to medical marijuana to help their epileptic children. A mother from Melbourne gave medical marijuana to her 18-month son who had been suffering from seizures. She was hesitant at first, but she noticed a major difference in her son within 15 minutes of administering the first dose. The toddler was able to track things with his eyes for the first time. She believes that the laws should change so that she will be able to access the drug legally.

Brave Mykayla is the 9 year-old lymphoblastic leukaemia survivor who used paediatric cannabis therapy. There have been numerous cases that prove Paediatric cannabis therapy in children can be an effective treatment for many diseases such as cancer. In the United States there are two approved treatments for cancer, which are chemotherapy and radiation. Chemotherapy and radiation are toxic to the body, and they often cause harsh symptoms in patients during treatment. With the growing amount of evidence that proves medical marijuana can cure cancer in children, it should be an approved treatment option for adults and children. This natural alternative to cancer treatment has been used to cure the cancer in a 9 year old girl named Brave Mykayla Comstock.

Mykayla is a nine year old girl who had T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and her parents chose to treat her cancer by using cannabis treatment. Mykayla was diagnosed with the disease when she was seven. On July 14, 2012, doctors discovered a tumor in her chest that was the size of a basketball. Due to the size of her mass, doctors would not be able to sedate her for the needed surgery. The sedation would put Mykayla at risk of death from the pressure that would be on her esophagus and heart. This form of leukemia is very aggressive. The white blood cells that are infected are called lymphoblasts, and they do not die like normal cells. Because the lymphoblasts never die, they build up and accumulate in the chest causing a tumor to develop.

Mykayla’s parents decided to use Paediatric cannabis therapy on their daughter to ease the symptoms of chemotherapy. As soon as Mykayla began cannabis treatment her cell counts decreased. Mykayla’s appetite and mood improved immediately after starting cannabis treatment, and she was also in less pain. In July of 2012, she had a 51% lymphoblast count. In August of 2012, Mykayla’s lymphoblast count was non-existent. The last time lymphoblasts were found in Mykayla’s blood smear was July 30, 2012. Mykayla’s parents believe using cannabis treatment on their daughter resulted in the best outcome.

It has been proven that cannabis therapy can treat leukemia by causing programmed cell death, or apoptosis. Medical marijuana is a natural treatment option that does not expose children to the same effects of chemotherapy or radiation. Children that undergo traditional cancer treatments are also given narcotic pain relievers, which can have negative side effects. There have been 20 studies about cannabis being an effective treatment for cancer. These studies have shown that cannabis can reduce cancer cells, and cannabis can raise immunity levels in cancer patients. A natural plant that has been proven to cure cancer, and effectively treat chemotherapy symptoms should be an alternative treatment option for cancer patients. As the legalization of marijuana continues to grow, so should the exposure of cannabis as an approved treatment option for cancer patients.

Back pain is the second most common cause for doctor’s visits in America, with approximately 65 million Americans suffering from some sort of back injury (sports, vehicle accident, etc.). Lower back pain affects approximately 1 in every 4 adults between the ages of 30 and 50 which is due in part to a sedentary lifestyle and the aging process.

Back pain can be nociceptive or neuropathic; Nociceptive pain is caused by diseased tissues outside the nerves with pain that is described as described as a sharp, throbbing, aching pain; Neuropathic pain is caused by damage to a nerve with pain described as a burning, heavy sensation, often with a numbness along the course of the affected nerve, Most patients who seek medical attention for their back pain will have some sort of medical evaluation such as X-rays, MRI or CT scan and in some cases a bone scan or myelogram. Unfortunately, there are many times that the cause of back pain cannot be determined.

Patients suffering from acute pain that occurs more than 3 times a year or who go through long periods of back pain that effects daily activities like driving the car, standing, sitting, walking, bending and sleeping are more likely to develop chronic back problems. Some patients with chronic pain don’t respond to conventional treatments and have to find a way to deal with the pain which is extremely difficult and can lead to drug addiction, insomnia, depression and anxiety.

Complex pain receptors are present in the spine and its surrounding tissue so injury to any of the spine’s structures (vertebrae, joints and discs between each vertebrae, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerve roots etc.) will be recognized as pain. In most cases, low back pain problems clear up in around 6 weeks. Unfortunately, around 10% of cases, back pain becomes chronic, usually caused by a bulging or herniated disc, spinal stenosis, myofascial pain (pain in the muscle and encompassing connective tissue) or due to a narrowing of the opening the spinal nerves pass through.

The Pain Treatment of Choice

Medical marijuana has become the chronic pain treatment of choice for many patients and it comes with minimal side effects. Conventional pain treatment remedies, including over the counter inflammatory and non-steroidal like aspirin, naproxen sodium and ibuprofen (NSAIDS) can be helpful, but they also come with side effects that include nausea, ulcers and gastric bleeding. Prescription medications like Celebrex (other NSAIDS) or Norco and Vicodin (opiates) can be effective at treating pain, however they also cause a long list of adverse side effects including their addiction potential. A lot of people have tried to live with the pain to avoid taking prescription medications because of their side effects but now many are considering using medical marijuana and those who have been using this healing herb have found it to be a very effective remedy for their chronic back pain.

Scientists have discovered that there are more than 100 distinctive molecules in the marijuana plant referred to as cannabinoids. Some examples of cannabinoids include psychoactive THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) and non-psychoactive cannabinoids (CBD or cannabidiol). These cannabinoids work by binding to the natural receptors found throughout our bodies known as endocannabinoid receptors, exerting a wide array of positive medical benefits that include the relief of inflammation, muscle spasms, pain, inflammation, insomnia and anxiety and depression.

Cannabinoid CBD in particular shows promise for being particularly effective in the treatment of muscle spasm, nerve pain, insomnia and anxiety, all symptoms that can be caused by lower chronic back pain problems. CBD is more dominant in marijuana strains identified as Indica.

Studies

A recent study at the Spine Center at University of Coloradoís Spine Center analyzed in 200 patients that suffered from degenerative disc issues and other back pains. The results of the study were that 89% of the test subjects that ingested marijuana, said it moderately or greatly relieved their back pain and 81% said it worked as well as or much better than narcotic pain relievers. Patients in the study that used the marijuana only did so one or twice a day. (http://www.medpagetoday.com/MeetingCoverage/AdditionalMeetings/42228?xid=nl_mpt_DHE_2013-10-12)

Several additional studies have found that marijuana is often associated with some kind of improvement in when it came to back pain symptoms. In 2010, Scientists from McGill University and McGill University Health Center found that patients with chronic neuropathic pain encountered pain relief, better quality of sleep and improved mood after smoking marijuana. Researchers at Imperial College London discovered, reported in the journal Anerthesiology, that Cannador, another marijuana plant extract, successfully relieves pain after major surgery.

Side Effects of Medical marijuana

Side effects from medical marijuana are minimal and include sleepiness, increased appetite and dry mouth in some cases. Opiates and other prescription medications come with a long list of dangerous side effects, many more (and more severe) than marijuana. As with most prescription medications, you should avoid driving or operating heavy machinery when using medical marijuana. Wait a minimum of 1 to 2 hours after medicating before getting behind the wheel.

Medical marijuana is becoming the treatment of choice for more and more chronic back pain patients. In fact, due to its broad range of medical benefits, some back pain patients have even been able to eliminate some, or in a few cases all, of their prescription medications by using medical marijuana. If nothing else, marijuana can improve the pain relieving effects of opiates and vaporized marijuana has been shown to significantly augment the analgesic effects of some prescription pain killers in patients suffering with chronic pain. It’s important to note that there are several ways to use marijuana besides smoking it including tinctures, topical applications, vaporization and edible products.

There aren’t many things as scary as being diagnosed with cancer; it’s not just the fear of the unknown that gets you, itís the side effects of the drugs and treatments that include nausea, pain, depression and more. Fortunately, it looks like medical marijuana may be a highly effective cancer treatment and a welcomed alternative to the harsher drugs currently being used to treat cancers that include cervical cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, colorectal cancer, lung cancer, prostate cancer, leukemia and more.

First, a Bit about The History of Medical Marijuana

The use of marijuana for medicinal purposes dates back centuries, coming into use in Western medicine during the 19th century and besides for recreational purposes, it was used to relieve pain, convulsions, inflammation and spasms. The U.S. Treasury started taxing marijuana in 1937 under the Marijuana Tax Act, $100 an ounce for recreational use and $1 per ounce for medicinal use. The American Medical Association actually opposed regulating marijuana and didn’t want studies of its possible medicinal benefits to be limited. Sadly, in 1942 it was removed from the U.S. pharmacopoeia due to concerns about its safety. In 1951, the Boggs Act was passed, which grouped Marijuana with narcotic drugs which seems ludicrous today.

Under 1970’s Controlled Substances Act, marijuana was classified as a Schedule I drug along with drugs like LSD, heroin, mescaline, gamma-hydroxybutyrate (GHB) and several other hard core drugs. At the time, although marijuana wasn’t believed to have any medical uses by most, the government prescribed it to patients under certain conditions between 1978 and 1992. Fortunately, in 2014 it looks like medical marijuana is going to get the attention it deserves.

Marijuana & Cancer

Over the last 20 years, researchers have studied how the cannabinoids in marijuana affect the brain and other areas of the body. Cannabinoid receptors have been identified in the nerve and cells in other parts of the body which suggests that cannabinoids may play a role in immunity and help fight some cancers. In addition, an increasing number of clinical trials are examining a medication produced from a whole plant extract of marijuana that contains precise amounts of cannabinoids. The medical marijuana version they’re studying is applied by spraying it under the tongue.

An interesting fact is that even lung cancer patients can benefit from using medical marijuana because studies have shown that smoking marijuana doesn’t cause cancer; they’ve actually shown that marijuana slows the progress of lung and cervical cancer cells.

Patients undergoing cancer treatment often use medical marijuana to reduce vomiting and nausea and it has been proven to be highly effective. In a study conducted at the University of Arkansas, cannabinoids greatly reduced nausea and vomiting in breast cancer patients following surgery.

Anti-tumor Activity

Studies have shown that cannabinoids may restrict tumor growth by obstructing cell growth, causing cell death and preventing the development of unnecessary blood vessels that tumors need to grow. In addition, laboratory studies have found that cannabinoids might be able to destroy cancer cells while defending normal cells. Studies have also shown that cannabinoids may protect against the inflammation of the colon, which may reduce the risk of colon cancer.

A clinical study of delta-9-THC in liver cancer cells demonstrated that it killed or at least damaged cancer cells and the same study showed that it had anti-tumor effects. It is believed that Delta-9-THC may cause these effects by affecting molecules that may also be observed in lung and breast cancer cells. A laboratory study of cannabidiol in estrogen positive and negative breast cancer cells exhibited that it induced cancer cell death without having an effect on normal breast cells. An unrelated study showed that medical marijuana may be able to stop the spread of metastatic breast cancer.

Marijuana & Chemotherapy

Cannabidiol in human glioma cells, when given along with chemotherapy, may also increase cancer cell death without harming normal cells, making chemotherapy more effective. Marijuana and cannabinoids have also been studied for ways to deal with side effects of cancer and cancer treatments, including the following:

Nausea & Vomiting

Two cannabinoid drugs, nabilone and dronabinol are approved by the FDA for the treatment of chemotherapy related nausea and vomiting in patients who haven’t responded to more conventional therapy. Several clinical trials have shown that both nabilone and dronabinol work as well as (or better than) weaker FDA approved drugs that are used to treat nausea and vomiting.

Cannabinoids with Opioids:

In a small clinical study involving 21 patients with chronic pain, combining vaporized marijuana with morphine relieved the pain better than morphine alone. Two small studies of oral delta-9-THC also revealed that it relieved cancer pain. In one study, patients experienced pain relief, relief of nausea and vomiting and increased appetite which diminishes chemo related anorexia. A second study confirmed that delta-9-THC could be offered in doses that provided pain relief that compared to codeine.

Whole Marijuana Plant Extract Medication

A study of a whole plant extract of marijuana containing specific levels of cannabinoids, was found to be effective in patients with advanced cancer whose pain wasn’t relieved by potent opioids alone. The patients who were given lower doses of cannabinoid spray demonstrated significantly better pain control as well as less sleep loss when compared to patients who were given a placebo.

Anxiety & Sleep

A small clinical study found that cancer patients who inhaled medical marijuana experience less anxiety, and an improved mood. Whole marijuana plant extract spray that contained specific amounts of cannabinoids, found that patients experience improved sleep quality.

The full potential of medical marijuana as a beneficial part of cancer treatment has yet to be discovered, but what has been uncovered so far is exciting. It’s certain that research will continue to discover new applications for medical marijuana in the treatment of cancer.

Depending upon your particular cancer prognosis and treatment plan, medical marijuana can be used either long or short term and still have a positive effect. Should you decide to use medical marijuana along with your current cancer treatment plan, itís sure to improve your quality of life during the process.

With all of its therapeutic uses, marijuana has a, shall way say, enjoyable side effect that’s been exaggerated as a concern: the “high” which the DEA used to feel was not acceptable. Fortunately, times and opinions are changing and people suffering from chronic health problems can get the relief they so deserve. We put our health and well being in the hands of our physicians every day, even taking the potentially dangerous drug that some tend to pass out like candy; finally it looks like we’ll have a healthy alternative thanks to the legalization of cannabis.

Medical Marijuana Cures & Relief

Cancer/AID Treatment

although it’s extremely damaging to the immune system, chemotherapy helps fight cancer and AIDS patients. The often devastating side effects of chemo include nausea and loss of appetite, but medical marijuana has been found to be a powerful agent for curbing the nausea brought on by chemotherapy treatments. This is also the case with AIDS and can even relieve motion sickness. There are pharmaceutical grade nausea control medications on the market, unfortunately in many cases the patient ends up throwing them back up. Because cannabis can be ingested as smoke, it stays in the system and keeps working even if vomiting continues. Researchers at the Medical College of Virginia found that marijuana is can successfully reduce several kinds of tumors, both malignant and benign.

Asthma

Over 15 million Americans are impacted by asthma and smoking medical marijuana can be beneficial for as many as 80% of them. Taking a hit of marijuana has the ability to prevent a full blown asthma attack in some cases. Cannabis provides a natural solution to treating Asthma instead of taking toxic medicines like the Theophylline that’s often prescribed to children.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma, a progressive loss of eyesight, is a leading cause of blindness in the United States. Smoking marijuana can benefit 90% of the nations 2.5 million glaucoma sufferers, and it is two to three times more effective than most of the current medications for reducing ocular pressure. Even more important is the fact that cannabis doesn’t cause any toxic side effects to the kidney or liver and there isn’t a danger of the periodic sudden death syndromes that have been associated with the pharmaceutical glaucoma eye drops/drugs. Interesting face: During the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s, many California eye doctors discreetly recommended that their patients use “street” marijuana along with their prescribed glaucoma medications.

Epilepsy

In most cases, medical marijuana is a beneficial treatment option for as high as 60% of epileptics. Cannabis extract is actually more effective than other commonly prescribed anti-epileptic drugs like Dilantin, which also comes with several known severe side effects. Cannabis users’ epileptic seizures are less intense than the more hazardous seizures endured by those that took pharmaceuticals.

Multiple Sclerosis (MS)

Smoking cannabis has been proven to provide a major source of relief for those afflicted by multiple sclerosis. MS impacts the nervous system and is characterized by tremors, muscular weakness, etc. Treating Multiple Sclerosis with medical marijuana can reduce or ease symptoms that include pain, spasticity, depression, sexual dysfunction, ataxia and anxiety, according to several case studies and clinical trials. In addition, medical marijuana may be able to slow the neuro-degeneration that’s associated with MS.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Ohio State University’s Gary Wenk, PhD, a prominent professor of neuroscience, immunology and medical genetics has stated that using low doses of marijuana for extended periods of time at some point in their lifetime could slow the onset of dementia, to the point where you’d probably die of old age before you get Alzheimerís. Wenks has been studying how to fight brain inflammation for more than 25 years and marijuana could be a solution. Part of the success of marijuana when it comes to Alzheimer’s is that the THC in it has a direct effect on the disease cycle.

Inflammation plays a key role in not only Alzheimerís, but Parkinson’s disease, dementia, autism, ALS, schizophrenia, AIDS, dementia, multiple sclerosis and more. Taking anti-inflammatories has preventative effects on the brain and cannabis is one of the oldest, safest, strongest and cheapest anti-inflammatory there is.

Migraine Relief

While tobacco constricts arteries, marijuana opens them up. Since migraine headaches are caused by artery spasms combined with an over relaxation of the veins, the vascular changes marijuana causes in the brain’s meninges (covering) can make migraines go away. Evidence of the vascular change induced by cannabis is apparent when you look into the user’s red eyes, which are actually the extensions of the brain. Unlike most drugs, marijuana has no evident effect on the vascular system except for a somewhat increased heart rate during the onset of the high.

Diabetes

Smoking marijuana, while having a reputation for increasing the appetite can actually help users to stay slim which has the potential of lowering their risk of getting diabetes, according to a 2013 study, which also suggests that certain compounds in the herb can also help control blood sugar. The 2013 research which was published in the American Journal of Medicine isn’t the first to find that Cannabis plays a dual role when it comes to its relationship to weight. Three preceding studies discovered that marijuana users are less likely to be overweight, have lower body mass index measurements and a lower risk for diabetes. The most amazing fact is that these tendencies transpired in spite of the fact that the users seemed to be consuming more calories.

Another important finding regarding the connection between medical marijuana is that current users appeared to have a better carbohydrate metabolism than those that don’t use it according to Harvard Medical School’s Murray Mittleman, an associate professor and the lead authority of the study. Mittleman found that their fasting insulin levels are lower, and they seemed to be less resistant to the insulin that is produced by their body to sustain a normal blood sugar level.

Even with a growing number of states now legalizing marijuana, the politics of pot may still overshadow research efforts to understand everything that cannabinoids can treat or prevent. The fact that it may help us tackle the current obesity problems the U.S. is facing may help resolve one of our biggest public health issues, one that leads to an endless list of medical issues.

Smoking

Smoking is the most expedient way to find relief because it deliversís an immediate effect. It is suggested that you use a pipe for a more predictable dosage.

Vaporizer

Using a medical marijuana vaporizer which releases its active medical components, is the most recommended alternative to smoking it

Edibles

Eating cannabis takes longer to kick in but it deliver a body effect instead of the brain making it a good option for individuals with chronic pain problems.

Tonics and Tinctures

Marijuana can be made into liquid form and added to food, consumed in small amounts by putting drops on your tongue. These tinctures are particularly useful in treating nausea and vomiting.

Your physician (hopefully you have an open minded one) will be able to determine whether or medical marijuana can help treat your specific condition and its symptoms. One of the many positive aspects of using this exceptional herb to treat health problems is that it doesn’t come with the long list of hazardous side effects most of today’s pharmaceuticals come with.

There isn’t an herb on the planet criticized more than marijuana; at least that’s how it used to be, and despite no evidence of anyone ever dying of a marijuana overdose, naysayers are upset that it’s been legalized which doesn’t make sense. Marijuana has been found to be an anti-inflammatory, reduce blood pressure, suppress cancer, alleviate pain, treat glaucoma and even inhibit HIV; it’s also neuroprotective. All of the above being said, does it make sense that alcohol is legal and marijuana had to wait all this time to be made legally available to the public? Well, we’ll save the soapbox for another time and instead share some of the conditions that can be helped by medical marijuana.

Medical research is demonstrating that marijuana can be effectively utilized to address the symptoms of a long list of both mild and serious medical conditions. Thanks to medical marijuana, conditions that typically require the prescription of harsh medications for the treatment or management, which often come with severe side effects can, now be treated almost side effect free. This factor alone can improve the patientís quality of life; an important benefit that will make it easier for them to handle whatever it is they’re facing. Some of the conditions currently believed to be treatable through the use of medical marijuana include:

Alzheimer’s Disease

According to the Scripps Research Institute, the THC (cannabinoid) in marijuana can help prevent Alzheimer’s plaque buildup in the brain as well as slow the progression of the disease.

Diabetes

Based on a study reported in the Autoimmunity journal, CBD, (a calming cannabidiol) is one of around 60 active cannabinoids in cannabis, may have potent anti-diabetes properties.

Depression

Those who use marijuana occasionally, or even on a daily basis, were less depressed than those who had never tried it, according to the University of Southern California research.

Crohn’s Disease

Marijuana treats the extremely painful, inflammatory bowel disease known as Crohnís disease. While more studies need to be done, the journal Pharmacology released a new study that reported that according to the researchers, the ancient use of cannabis in intestinal disturbances, along with a decade of animal research, marijuana was shown to reduce Crohn’s disease symptoms in patients and in some cases caused a complete remission of Crohnís disease without side effects.

Rheumatoid Arthritis

Patients at the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases in the UK, who where given cannabis based medication for 5 weeks, reported significant improvements in pain and the quality of sleep.

Multiple Sclerosis Muscle Spasms

Various studies have shown that cannabis relieves multiple sclerosis symptoms, including muscle spasms, nerve pain and urinary disorders and its active ingredients effect the immune cells and the central nervous system.

Nausea Relief

Marijuana provides relief of nausea for patients going through chemotherapy treatments and helps address the poor appetite and weight loss induced by chronic illness including cancer, HIV and nerve pain.

Seizure disorders

In countries where the use of medical marijuana has been legal, people suffering with seizure disorders like epilepsy have reported beneficial effects including a reduction in seizure activity. Today, many states prescribe medical marijuana for the treatment of epilepsy. Researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University researchers found that it may also help control spontaneous epileptic seizures.

Neurological disorders

When it comes to treating neurological disorders, cannabis is a safe substitute to pharmaceuticals, and while more studies need to be carried out, preliminary evidence reveals that it’s also a highly effective treatment for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.

Bipolar Disorder

Medical marijuana addresses the endocannabinoid process, a homeostatic regulator that is found in all humans. Incredibly, clinical studies suggest that selected cannabinoids (CBD and THC) found in marijuana may have vital mood stabilizing attributes that can be beneficial for bipolar patients, a disorder that is really difficult to live with.

Cancer

A researcher in the United Kingdom found that cannabinoids can kill leukemia cells, and he anticipates that future clinical trials will begin regarding new marijuana medications in the future. His findings, posted in the journal of Anticancer Research, show that selected non-psychoactive cannabinoids resulted in remarkable reductions in cell stability and triggered a simultaneous charge at all stages of the cell cycle. While marijuana by not treat all cancers, the outlook looks positive which is great news for cancer patients.

Asthma

Marijuanaís impressive effects on the respiratory system are some of the most important findings of modern day research. Contrary to popular belief, research has conclusively shown that long term cannabis use has minor to no impact at all on the lungs. A number of studies carried out in the 1970s observed that THC can act as an efficient bronchodilator by countering airway constriction, the principal symptom of asthma in both asthmatic and healthy individuals.

How Does It Work?

Our bodies already generate marijuana like chemicals that can affect inflammation, pain and a number of other natural processes. What marijuana does, in many cases, is to help these natural chemicals work more efficiently according to Laura Borgelt, a Doctor of Pharmacy at the University of Colorado.

Becoming a card carrying medical marijuana patient has never been easier, for people who need it. There are a wide array of ailments that cannabis is prescribed to treat. These illnesses can be of the body and mind. It is important to get your card when you think cannabis can help you in the treatment of your sickness. It is natural and much less harmful than many other prescription drugs. Having your medicinal marijuana license will protect you from fines and incarceration if you are stopped by the police. However, it is important that you know the laws in your area to avoid any legal trouble. Having a card does not exempt one from all marijuana related offenses (especially as they pertain to intent to distribute or sales). This article will attempt to explore the different avenues of getting your license and how to stay within the boundaries of the law.

Medical marijuana cards are given away for a multitude of mental issues and a myriad of physical illnesses. These include but are not limited to the following:

Muscle spasms caused by multiple sclerosis

Nausea (Chemotherapy, etc.)

Seizures

Crohn’s disease

Increasing appetite (eating disorders, HIV/AIDS, etc.)

Alzheimer’s disease

Cachexia

Migraine

Glaucoma

Pain

Spasticity

Wasting Syndrome

Ailment List – https://blog420.com/cannabis-ailment-guide/

There are many other disease (and just plain symptoms) that marijuana can be prescribed for. If you fit the requirements then it is time to start gathering what you need to get your medicinal ID card. First you need to make sure your condition is covered. You can find listings of acceptable conditions by state. If your condition does not fit the state’s requirements you can send in an appeal to request an exception to your local health department.

The next step is signing onto the registry system. Most states have this as a requirement to get your licensing. Familiarize yourself with the system. It will help you gain the knowledge you need to stay safe from law enforcement. What you will learn from studying it is the same thing law enforcement officers have to know in order to incarcerate you. It includes what your rights are on growing, possessing, transporting, and using marijuana.

Now, what do you want to do? Be a caregiver to help grow and deliver marijuana to your selected patient, be a patient yourself, or open your own dispensary? There are different laws regarding each of these, the strictest being those regarding dispensaries. The second strictest is the laws pertaining caregivers as they are not allowed to partake in a lot of marijuana related activities themselves. The most lenient laws are those of the actual patient. We will not get into opening a dispensary in this post as that is its own can of worms. Instead, we talk about the caregiver and the patient.

A caregiver is someone who is selected by a patient to help them obtain their medicine if unable to, help them grow cannabis, and so on. Caregivers cannot partake in the use of the substance, but can help the person they are registered to take care of ingest marijuana if the patient is unable to. The laws differ by county so check to make sure you are following all the current laws in your area.

Medical marijuana doctors tend to be very lenient on prescribing cannabis as a medicine. If you are truly sick you should have no problems in getting licensure. Still, it is important to find a good doctor. Most doctors charge a fee of around $100 to assess you, it would be a waste of money to not get the right one. Look up Yelp reviews or ask around to find a doctor who is compassionate, professional, and not too uptight.

For help finding a doctor visit this link: http://marijuanaproducts.com/cat/doctors/

Before you visit your chosen doctor make sure you meet your state’s requirements. Many states have an age minimum of 18 years old. In some states you can also be disqualified for having been convicted of a felony drug offense. Make sure you know your limits on possession. As an example, Oregon allows possession of up to 28 ounces and lets you to grow 6 mature and 18 immature plants. So you can see how much the laws can vary, lets take a look at Alaska’s laws. Alaska allows you to be in possession of only one ounce and to grow 3 mature and 3 immature plants. To stay safe from the grips of the law, familiarize yourself with the laws and restrictions in your area. You must also know the reciprocity agreements. Most state’s don’t allow out of state medicinal cards, the only one’s that do are the following:

Arizona

Delaware

Maine

Michigan

Rhode Island

So, you’ve found your doctor and meet all the requirements. Now it’s time to make an appointment. You need to bring with you either your state issued identification card, passport, or your social security card. If you live in a state where being 18 is not a set-in-stone requirement, you need a letter from your parents that says that they consent to medicinal use of cannabis for your condition. You must also provide proof that you live in the county. Your driver’s license can be used if it states your current address, otherwise you need to provide personal bills or mortgage statements. Upon acceptance you will get written documentation from the doctor you’ve chosen stating that you are eligible to be a card carrying medicinal marijuana patient. This is your golden ticket.

Next you will complete an application form to enroll in the medical marijuana program. You will need to complete a similar form to renew your card, so at least it’s good practice. If you are under 18 you will need to have this form completed by your parent or guardian. Primary caregivers also need to fill out this application.

You’re almost there! Now, you have to prepare your payment. Full fees range from $100-$200 depending on your county. Some states allow Medicaid benefits or other income supplements. Your last step is submitting your materials to the county health department. In some areas this is done completely online, in other counties you need to mail the materials. Make sure you have everything you need; your documentation and your check or money order. Now all that you have to do is wait for your card to arrive. Flash forward approximately 10 days: Congratulations, you are now a card carrying medical marijuana patient! Smoke up!